1. The prophets were puzzled about how the glorious Messiah could suffer and how to reconcile Old Testament scripture about a glorious Messiah with the scripture which spoke of the Messiah suffering (e.g. Psalm 22; Isaiah 52:13-53:12).  They did not understand about the gap between His first coming and second coming and about the church age.

2. In others’ words:

- “The marvelous gospel of God’s grace to sinful men was prophesied by Old Testament prophets who failed to comprehend its truths; it was preached by New Testament Spirit-filled apostles, and is of great wonder to angels.” (Unger)

- “If prophets so searched and angels so desire to look …we surely [should] be content with nothing less than the utmost diligence in our endeavor to apprehend the deep things of our inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.”  (Morgan)

3. Beginning in 1:13 through 2:5, Peter changes to imperative verbs.  Based upon the salvation which he has described, a salvation which  was solidly based upon Old Testament Biblical truth, Peter calls these believers to action; beginning with the call to engage their minds, to get thinking.  “So roll up your sleeves put your mind in gear.” (1 Peter 1:13, The Message)

4. Peter challenges these believers to have a prepared mind, a sober mind, a hopeful mind, and a renewed or re-directed mind. He calls believers to a tough-minded holiness with mental faculties fully under control.  This is a challenge needed today because so much of contemporary Christianity is infected with emotionalism, mysticism, the prosperity gospel and the gospel of self-actualization.